In His Footsteps: St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461. Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints.
A participle is very different from a gerund. While a gerund works as a noun, a participle works as an adjective. The purpose of an adjective is to describe a noun or a pronoun. Therefore, a participle always describes a noun or a pronoun in the same sentence. There are two kinds of participles: present participles and past participles.
Don't mistake a present participle phrase for a gerund phrase. Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an ing word. The difference is the function that they provide in the sentence.on't mistake a present participle phrase for a gerund phrase. Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an ing word. The difference is the function that they provide in the sentence.